Collapsible camper



May 20, 1969 s, ET AL 3,445,134

COLLAPSIBLE CAMPER Filed Feb. 15. 1967 INVENTORS United States Patent3,445,134 COLLAPSIBLE CAMPER Sidney P. Pair, 1511 Oliver; and Jerry W.Pair, 1307 Oliver, both of Weatherford, Tex. 76086; and R. W.

Beck, Jr., 2123 NW. 23rd St., Fort Worth, Tex.

Filed Feb. 15, 1967, Set. No. 616,352 Int. Cl. B60p 3/34; A45f 1/00;1304]) 1/347 US. Cl. 296-23 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREDisclosed herein is a camper of the collapsible type having rigid sidepanels and foldable end and top panels. Pivotally connected top and rearpanels fold backward to form floor extensions supported on areciprocable frame extension member that moves between a retractedhidden position and an exposed extended position. Also, one top panelfolds forward to extend the camper in that direction. Tubular supportmembers are pivotally secured to selected ones of the panels, and apliable covering is secured to these members to automatically expandwith the top and end panels.

Previously, collapsible campers have been developed that retract to alow, compact profile for convenience during transportation from onelocation to the other, but which expand upon reaching the campsite toprovide greater room and comfort. Ideally, a collapsible camper shouldbe operable by only one person and capable of easy expansion. It wouldbe preferable that the panels which form the ends and top of the camperwhen collapsed be secured to a collapsible, pliable covering and supportmembers such that the camper is automatically expanded when the panelsare expanded.

It is accordingly the general object of our invention to provide animproved collapsible camper.

Another object of our invention is to provide an improved collapsiblecamper which utilizes panel members, pliable material, and support meansthat are interconnected to automatically raise to the expanded positionwhen the panels are expanded.

Another object of our invention is to provide a combination of panelsthat when opened form a floor exten sion supported on a frame extensionmember which is reciprocably carried by the frame to move between hiddenand retracted positions.

Another object of our invention is to provide a manner of securing thepliable covering and support means of a collapsible camper to stationaryside walls such that a space between the support means and the sidewalls enables storage of the pliable covering inside the collapsedcamper without removal from the support means.

These and other objects are effected by our invention as will beapparent from the following description taken in accordance with theaccompanying drawing, forming a part of this application, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a collapsible camper embodying theprinciples of our invention as shown in the collapsed position;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the camper of FIG. 1 shownin the expanded position;

FIG. 3 is a schematic side elevational view of the camper of FIGS. 1 and2 when expanded;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of an attachment device used tosupport the tubular covering support means of the camper.

The numeral 11 in the drawing designates a frame which is carried bysuitable wheels 13. The frame 11 supports a suitable, relativelystationary floor 15. Reciprocably mounted to the frame 11 is a frameextension member 17 which in this instance consists of four tubularmembers reciprocably received by the longitudinally extending members ofthe frame 11. A transverse end bar 19 extends across the extremity ofthe tubular members 17.

Extending upward from the sides of the frame are two side walls 21 whichin this instance are in the form of parallelograms. A rigid panel 23 ispivotally and transversely secured to the upper, forward corners of thematching ends of the side walls 21. This panel may extend horizontallyand is supported in such position by suitable means, in this instance bya vertical support panel 25 which is held stationary by a slottedpositioner 27. Thus it may be seen that the panels 23, 25 are pivotallysecured to each other and thus may be folded from the collapsed positionshown in FIG. 1 to the expanded position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Thefront end of this particular camper when collapsed is formed of anotherpanel 29 which is immovably secured to the front edges of the side walls21.

Pliable collapsible covering means 30 has its forward edge secured tothe outer edge of the panel 23 and inner regions 31 and 33 secured tothe horizontal regions of generally U-shaped collapsible coveringsupport means 35, 37. By way of additional support, longitudinallyextending straps 39 extend from the forward edge of the panel 23 overthe support means 35, 37 as shown in FIG. 2. The covering means may besecured to these straps by suitable means such as by sewing.

The support means 35, 37 are pivotally secured to the side walls 21adjacent the upper and forward corner 41. When the camper is collapsed,the support members 35, 37 assume a generally horizontal positionunderneath the stacked panels 23, 25 which also assume horizontalpositions as shown in FIG. 1.

For additional support of the pliable material, a removable support post43 may be secured by suitable means (not shown) to side panels 21. Whenthe camper is collapsed this support post may be manually removed andlaid horizontally in the camper as indicated in phantom in FIG. 3.

A floor panel 45, hereinafter referred to as the second panel, ispivotally and transversely secured to the lower corners 47 on theopposite ends of the side walls 21 diametrically opposed to said uppercorners 41. This panel forms a floor extension when expanded and formsthe rear of the camper when collapsed, as shown in FIG. 1. Anotherfloorpanel 48 hereinafter referred to as the third panel, is pivotallysecured to the outer edge of the second panel 45 to form when expanded afurther floor extension of the camper when expanded and a portion of theroof of the camper when collapsed. Both the second and third panels 45,48 are supported by the above described frame extension member 16 whenexpanded.

A pair of pedestals 49 are pivotally secured to the end of the frameextension members to provide stability to the camper. These pedestalspivot to a hidden horizontal position (not shown) so that they do notextend near the ground when the camper is in the collapsed position.

Another collapsible covering support means 51 is pivotally secured tothe side walls 21 near their upper and rearward corner 53 on the end ofthe camper adjacent said second panel 45. The upper end of this supportmeans is secured to the pliable covering of the camper in a somewhatcentral region.

Another support means 55 is pivotally secured near the outer edge ofsaid second panel 45 and is secured to the pliable covering to defineone elevated rear edge of the camper when expanded.

When the panels 45, 48 are collapsed the support means 55, 51 may assumea generally horizontal position within the camper.

A forward pedestal 57 may be provided in the interest of achievingrigidity of the structure and the forward extension 59 of the frameadapted to be conveniently at tached to the trailer hitch of anautomobile or the like.

Any suitable means may be utilized for securing the support means 35,37, 51 and 55 to the various panels, one satisfactory approach beingillustrated in FIG. 4 where the side panel 21 is shown with a bracket 61extending therefrom. The fiat end portion 63 of the support means 51 inthis instance is secured by a suitable fastener 65 to the bracket 61.The width of the support means is narrower than the distance across theside walls to define a clearance space D for storing the pliablecovering means 30 when the camper is collapsed, without necessity forremoving the pliable covering means.

While we have shown our invention in only one of its forms it should beapparent to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited but issusceptible to various changes and modifications without departing fromthe spirit thereof.

The greatest increase in spaciousness of the camper when expanded isachieved by utilization of the rearwardly folding panels 45, 48 whichautomatically raise the support means 51, 55 and thus the pliablecovering of the camper. It is not essential that the forward panels 23,25 Work in the above described manner since they do not add nearly somuch space as the rearward panels. Thus they may be replaced, forexample, with one panel which is raised to a vertical position with thecanvas being secured to its outer edges. Also, the number andconfiguration of rearwardly expanding panels may be varied within thescope of our invention. The specific form of frame extension membersshown is advantageous but may be varied to geometric forms other thanthe one disclosed. Thus, the principles of our invention may be utilizedwithout need for using the specific number of panels and support meansshown and a number of possible variations in this regard will appear tothose of average skill in the art along with other possiblemodifications.

We claim:

1. A collapsible camper comprising:

(a) a frame having wheels defining a longitudinal axis;

(b) side walls carried by the frame;

(c) a panel pivotally secured to matching upper corners of said sidewalls on an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis;

(d) a second panel pivotally and transversely secured to the lowercorners on the opposite ends of said side walls diametrically opposed tosaid upper corners to form a floor extension when expanded and the rearof the camper when collapsed;

(e) a third panel pivotally secured to the outer edge of the secondpanel to form when expanded a further floor extension and a portion ofthe roof of the camper when collapsed;

(f) a longitudinally reciprocating frame extension member carried bysaid frame below the second and third panel members to support saidsecond and third panel members when expanded;

(g) collapsible covering support means pivotally secured to said panels;and

(h) pliable collapsible covering means secured to said support means andto the outer extremity of the third panel to raise the support means andcover the camper when the panels are expanded.

2. The collapsible camper defined by claim 1 wherein said frameextension member is telescopically carried within mating components ofsaid frame, and pedestal supports depend from the outer extremitythereof to rigidly uphold said second and third panels.

3. The collapsible camper defined by claim 1 wherein said collapsiblecovering support means comprises:

(a) one generally U-shaped covering support pivotally secured near theouter edge of said second panel and secured to the roof of the coveringto define one elevated outer edge of the camper when expanded;

(b) a second generally U-shaped covering support pivotally secured tothe side walls near said upper corners on the end of the camper adjacentsaid second panel and to the covering to define a central supporttherefor; and

(c) a third generally U-shaped covering support pivotally secured to theside walls near said upper corners to define the opposite elevated outeredge of the camper when expanded.

4. A collapsible camper comprising:

(a) a wheeled frame;

(b) side walls carried by the frame;

(c) at least one panel pivotally secured to selected matching corners ofone end of each side wall;

(d) collapsible covering support means secured to said panel and erectedupon opening said panel;

(e) at least one additional panel pivotally secured to selected matchingcorners of the opposite end of each side wall to form a floor extensionof the camper when expanded;

(f) collapsible covering support means secured to said additional paneland erected upon opening this panel;

(g) pliable covering means secured to said panel and said support meansand erected when the panels are opened;

(h) a longitudinally reciprocable frame extension member carried by saidframe below an associated panel to support said panel when expanded.

5. The collapsible camper defined by claim 4 wherein said frameextension member is telescopically carried by said frame to movelongitudinally of the camper between a hidden position when retractedand an exposed position when initially expanded, and pedestal supportsdepend from the outer extremity thereof to rigidly uphold said secondand third panels.

6. The collapsible camper defined by claim 4 wherein said firstmentioned panel is secured to the upper and forward corner of each saidside walls; the second mentioned panel is secured to the lower cornerson the opposite end of the side walls to form a floor extension; and theframe extension member in its extended position supports said secondmentioned panel.

7. The collapsible camper defined by claim 6 wherein a third panel ispivotally secured to the outer edge of said second mentioned panel toform a further floor extension supported by said frame extension memberin its extended position.

8. A collapsible camper comprising:

(a) a wheeled frame;

(b) side walls carried by the frame;

(c) at least one panel pivotally secured to selected matching corners ofone end of each side wall;

(d) at least one additional panel pivotally secured to selected matchingcorners of the opposite end of each side wall to form a floor extensionof the camper when expanded;

(e) collapsible covering support means secured to selected ones of saidpanels and said side walls and erected upon opening said panels, saidmeans having a narrower width than the distance across the side walls todefine a clearance space;

(f) pliable covering means secured to panels and said support means anderected when the panels are opened, and fitting between said clearancespace for storage when the camper is collapsed;

(g) a reciprocable frame extension member carried by said frame below anassociated panel to support said panel when expanded.

9. The collapsible camper defined by claim 8 wherein said frameextension member is telescopically carried by said frame to movelongitudinally of the camper between a hidden position when retractedand an exposed position when initially expanded, and pedestal supportsdepend from the outer extremity thereof to rigidly uphold said secondand third panels.

10. The collapsible camper defined by claim 8 wherein said firstmentioned panel is secured to the upper and forward corner of each saidside walls; the second mentioned panel is secured to the lower cornerson the opposite end of the side walls to form a floor extension; and theframe extension member in its extended position supports said secondmentioned panel.

11. The collapsible camper defined by claim 10 wherein m a third panelis pivotally secured to the outer edge of said second mentioned panel toform a further floor extension supported by said frame extension memberin its extended position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,898,143 8/ 1959 Ferrera 29623.32,901,282 8/ 1959 Meaker 296--23.3

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,146,761 5/1957 France.

925,510 3/ 1955 Germany.

PHILIP GOODMAN, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

